Category Archives: Society News

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE
SGS ARCHIVE COMMITTEE 

While the SGS Library isn’t open to the public on Thursday, it certainly isn’t empty. Thursday is the day you’ll find the Archive Committee there working. Our Archive Committee is down to two members, Bernice and Ingrida, and they could use some help.

So what do they do, you ask. Do you like to play detective? Do you like history and family stories? Drop by the SGS Library on any Thursday between 10am – 3pm to meet with the SGS Archive Committee Volunteers and they will show you what they do with the donated materials that come in on an ongoing basis. They will gladly explain what is required to properly organize records for digitizing the family collections that are donated by the public. They look forward to working with you.

If you are interested in this volunteer position or you have questions, you are also welcome to reach out to Ingrida via email at  volunteers@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org. Leave your contact information there and she will get back to you soon. 

SGS MEMBERS – IT’S TIME TO RENEW –
TAKE PART AS WE ENTER THE SOCIETY’S
100TH YEAR

To renew online log in at Members Home, go to your Member Profile, and then click the green “Renew Membership” button.
 
If you’d rather renew by postal mail, click print a membership application and send it together with your dues payment to SGS.
 
Or better yet, stop by the SGS Library and renew in person!
 
Not a member? Join online today and enjoy discounted class and Seminar fees, free research requests, special interest groups, and access to exclusive SGS publications and databases. Find out more about membership at Join SGS.

PLEASE NOTE THESE 
IMPORTANT UPDATES 

It’s almost here – our virtual, online spring seminar is only 3 days away. It runs June 3 – June 5, 2022. If you haven’t registered and you’d like to attend, register now. Just click this link: Register for the SGS 2022 Spring Seminar Please register by June 1, 2022.

The physical SGS Library at Good Shepherd Center will be closed to visitors on Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, 2022 so that everyone may attend and enjoy our virtual, online seminar. Also note the FamilySearch SIG with Lou Daly has postponed their regular meeting time to accommodate the seminar. Instead of meeting on Saturday, June 4, they will meet Saturday, June 11, 2022. 

Another important reminder, the SGS Membership Meeting is scheduled for 12:30 pm, Saturday, June 11, 2022, following the FamilySearch SIG, and preceding the Second Saturday Speaker Series presentation with Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal. Elizabeth is the author of the family history lifestyle blog Heart of the Family™, and her mission is to help others make the past part of their present.

SAVE THE DATE

Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, 
2nd Monday meetings
usually 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST

JGSWS meets on the second Monday of each month, from Sept-June. Doors open at 6:30 PM unless noted otherwise. The next meeting is June 13, 2022, and the presentation, “Finding Relatives in the Forverts (Jewish Daily Forward)” with Michael Morgenstern, will begin at 7:00PM. Registration is required. 

http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658
New Hours : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Masks are recommended  inside the Good Shepherd Center. Due to COVID the events listed below continue to be virtual, online via Zoom. Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. 

NOTICE: SGS has imposed more security on our Zoom meetings. Some meetings will begin with a waiting room.  The host must take action to let people into each meeting.  The host will try to open the waiting room about 10 minutes ahead of time. Please be patient.

All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted 

Wednesday, June 1, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Friday, June 3, 2022,  the SGS Library will be closed 
Saturday, June 4, 2022,  the SGS Library will be closed ** FamilySearch SIG postponed

Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Saturday, June 11, 2022, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group with Lou Daly (Virtual),  Postponed from Saturday, June 4, to allow all to enjoy the SGS Spring Seminar. Discover the many ways to use FamilySearch. At each meeting a different aspect of the website will be featured. There will be time for Q & A. Want to be included on the mail listing? Email Lou: loudaly@nwlink.com

Saturday, June 11, 2022, 12:30 pm-1:00 pm, SGS Membership Meeting,  Hope to see all returning and new members of SGS at this meeting. Meet the new board. Hear what’s happening in our new space. Stay on for our ever popular Second Saturday Speaker Series which starts at 1:00 pm. 

Saturday, June 11, 2022, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, “Second Saturday: How to Use eBay, Etsy, and Other Shopping Sites for Family History”, with Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal. 

Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. 

Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Friday, June 17, 2022, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Family Tree Maker SIG,  with the Eastside Genealogical Society. You must be on the email list of attend a meeting; send your request to egsgenealogyhelper@yahoo.com 

Saturday, June 18, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, Irish SIG is back! With Susan McKee and Jim Ryan. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. 
Saturday, June 18, 2022, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German SIG is back! With Carolyn Schott. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information.

Sunday, June 19, 2022,  1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New,  Jill Morelli is the host. Visit the SGS website Calendar for details and updates. Please register in advance. Topic to be determined – stay tuned. 

Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Saturday, June 25, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:30 pm,  DNA SIG with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens.To participate you must be on the DNA SIG email list. Contact Cary at sgsdnasig@gmail.com to join.

Sunday, June 26, 2022, 1:00 pm, Japanese American SIG,  with Caitlin Oiye Coon. This is one of our newer SIGs. Please sign up if you would like to attend; send an email to family.history@densho.org 

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. 

Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Twin River Genealogy Society Walking with Ancestors

by Charles Hansen

Walking with Ancestors

July 4th 2022

Presented by the Twin River Genealogy Society

Starting time: 8:30am first group, (16 per group) and 10:30am is the last group.

Also joining us is Steven Branting, Local Historian.

We will be at the Normal Hill Cemetery Division 2, Lewiston ID. Please bring a lawn chair.

The People we will be visit:

William Harvey

George Evans Stonebraker

Miles and Nellie Smith

Mary and William Stewart

Several Sisters from St Stanislaus

Mary and Frank Stevens

Heritage Quest Research Library June Meeting Start Writing

by Charles Hansen
Steven W Morrison, MPA is the past-president of the Puget Sound Chapter of APG and the Olympia Genealogical Society.  He holds an undergraduate degree from Western Washington University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Evergreen. Steven is well known and respected across the genealogy community.   START WRITING – Your Ancestor’s Legacy Depends Upon YOU! To some genealogists “the hunt” is everything. Learn how to shift gears and write a cohesive story about your ancestor.  Writing helps you refocus your thinking.  You might even surprise yourself, realizing you have bagged your ancestor without even realizing it!

Whether you think of yourself as a writer or not, here is a class to polish those writing skills and pay tribute to your family at the same time. 
Writing puts things in a different part of our brain and helps the story stay with us and come alive. WHEN: June 2, 2022          11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WHERE:  ZOOM
COST:  Members $20          Non-Members $25
Deadline: May 26, 2022
Sign-up and Payment:  Come into HQRL
1007 Main Street, Sumner, WA 98390
OR Call: 253-863-1806
OR go to our website: hqrl.com 

Members must log in to the members page and then proceed to the HQRL Store in order to obtain the member discount. SAVE THE DATE:  June 16, 2022
Janet O’Conor Camarata is back with MAPPING YOUR ANCESTOR More information coming soon!  
Copyright © 2022 Heritage Quest Research LIbrary, All rights reserved.
You have told us that you want to receive our news and updates from our library.

Our mailing address is:
Heritage Quest Research Library
1007 Main St
Sumner, WA 98390-1412

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society June Meeting Finding Family in Western Canada

by Charles Hansen

Please join us on Saturday June 4th for David Obee. You can attend either in-person at the Shadle library or by Zoom. Zoom link and syllabus will be posted on the website the morning of the presentation. Please remember to print your syllabus before you arrive. There will be door prizes!And a free table!  You may bring any genealogy items that are no longer useful to you to add to the free table, but you must take home any items that are still there at the end of the day.      

  Saturday, June 4 EWGS General Meeting 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm A Hybrid Meeting at Shadle Public Library   David Obee will present:“Finding Family in Western Canada”Odds are, you have cousins, if not ancestors, from Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan or Manitoba, the four western provinces of Canada. This presentation will cover the important sources that apply to all four provinces, some that are regional in nature, as well as ones unique to each province. It will include some geographic clues, and will note some major differences between research in this region and in the United States.

Tri City Genealogical Society Richland FHC Closing while Remodeling

by Charles Hansen

The Richland Family History Center is going to be downsized.  We will be closing the FHC on May 20st to allow the remodeling of the building.  

On Saturday, May 21st  starting at 9 AM, there will be a free Parking Lot giveaway of the excess equipment, furniture, shelving, and miscellaneous materials that we will no longer be able use or store in the Family History Center.   There will be several boxes of duplicate books.  Come see if you can find something to help in your family history research.
If you have any microfilm that you previously ordered and want to keep it available, please contact Wayne Ross (509-531-2728) before the 20th. 
Most microfilm is now available online and most of our inventory will be returned to FamilySearch in Salt Lake by May 20th. 
We don’t know when we will be able to reopen at this point.

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

SGS 2022 SPRING SEMINAR
“LAND AND MAPS AND DEEDS, OH MY!”
FRIDAY – SUNDAY, JUNE 3-5, 2022
Registration for the Spring Seminar is still open.

Just click this link: Register for the SGS 2022 Spring Seminar
Please register by June 1, 2022.

Our spring seminar is a three day event! 

  • Friday, June 3, at 5:00 pm, Cyndi Ingle, creator and innovator of CyndisList.com, is the keynote speaker.
  • Saturday, June 4, Land presentations begin at 9:00 am with Angela Packer McGhie on “Land Entry Files and Tract Books,” Following that  Rebecca Whitman Koford will present “Military Bounty lands: Revolution to Mexican War.”
  • Sunday, June 5, Maps and Deeds presentations begin at 1:00 pm with Melinda Kashuba “Using Migration Maps in Genealogical Research.” Then Kimberly Powell will help us to find the deeds with “Mastering Deed Book Indexing Systems.”

Read more here. You won’t want to miss any of these talented speakers!

VOLUNTEERS OF THE QUARTER   Each quarter, the Seattle Genealogical Society recognizes a member as our Volunteer of the Quarter. For Spring Quarter 2022, SGS is honoring a team of members: Allegra Anderson, Melanie Moser, Woods Fairbanks, and Ellen Peterson. You will probably recognize their photo and the story from the eNews! a few months ago.   

  Due to tight timing constraints that arose as SGS approached the end date on the lease of the Sand Point Way NE library space, over 100 boxes full of books and other materials had to be sent to temporary storage. These materials were slated to go to the Internet Archive, eventually. So over a two-day period in chilly mid-January 2022, the intrepid quartet of Allegra, Melanie, Woods, and Ellen, with assistance from Library Director, Kathi M, and SGS President, Jim Secan, transferred all those books and materials into the stronger shipping boxes provided by Internet Archive and then this crew got the seven pallets of boxes onto the truck for shipment.

Here’s an introduction for each team member. Join us in thanking them for volunteering to do the heavy lifting, quite literally. 

Allegra Anderson joined SGS in 2019 and this is her first time to volunteer. She enjoyed the camaraderie. Many volunteers express that sentiment. About her genealogy, Allegra says, “So many ancestors, so little time!”; also a sentiment many of us share. She has traced her mother’s line back to 1650 New York and her husband’s family crossed on the Oregon Trail in 1852. When not doing genealogy, Allegra enjoys spinning – fibers, not bikes – and then she weaves what she has spun. 

Melanie Moser has been a member since 2014. She was drawn to this project’s mission, digitizing books so they will be accessible to everyone, everywhere.  After researching a Norwegian ancestor, she visited Norway and met third cousins. Recently, she and her daughter visited Salt Spring Island, BC, where one of her ancestors settled in 1859. They even kayaked to an island where this ancestor’s family boat sank. In her free time, Melanie enjoys tennis with her daughter, and reading. 

Woods Fairbanks has been with SGS for a few years. He joined with the goal of improving his genealogical research skills. He helped with the library move and catalog data cleanup. He likes the camaraderie one experiences while volunteering and he likes learning from fellow family history researchers. When not doing genealogy, Woods appreciates film/music, running, and family walks. 

Ellen Peterson has been volunteering for about five of the six years she has been an SGS member. She likes to help with technical things. And she attends many of our events – the FamilySearch SIG with Lou Daly, Tech Tuesdays, the DNA SIG with Cary Bright, and presentations by Jill Morelli, Janice Lovelace, and others. Ellen has researched her own, as well as her wife’s, extended families. DNA testing allowed Ellen to debunk an odd story one aunt told about not being the daughter of her grandparents, but rather the baby sister. Besides genealogy, Ellen enjoys bird watching.   SGS ELECTION RESULTS
The Board of Directors has voted  to accept the slate of candidates. However, there are still 3 open positions, plus openings on the Nominating Committee. Please consider volunteering to fill one of these open positions. This should be an exciting year, with all the Centennial activities on tap.   

BOARD MEMBERS for 2022-2023 Term June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023. 

1. President, Jim Secan 
2. Vice President, Carolyn Ladd
3. Secretary, Alanna Stanton
4. Treasurer, Karen Knudson 
5. Director of Education, Cecellia Rogers 
6. Director of Library, Kathi M
7. Director of Membership: Christine Schomaker
8. Director of Operations, vacant
9. Director of Publications Lisa White 
10. Director of Technology, vacant
11. Director of Volunteers, vacant 
12. Nominating Committee:      * Yvette Beaudoin      * Carole Mercer
     * Vacancies for 3 additional slots on the Nominating Committee
        and 1 alternate

Meet the Board at the SGS Membership Meeting scheduled for 12:30 PM, Saturday, June 11, 2022.     SAVE THE DATE

Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State, 
2nd Monday meetings
usually 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PST

JGSWS meets on the second Monday of each month, from Sept-June. Doors open at 6:30 PM unless noted otherwise. The next meeting is June 13, 2022, and the presentation, “Finding Relatives in the Forverts (Jewish Daily Forward)” with Michael Morgenstern, will begin at 7:00PM. Registration is required. 

http://www.jgsws.org/meetings.php


SGS 2022 Spring Seminar, Virtual, 
“Lands and Maps and Deeds, Oh My!” 
Friday-Sunday, June 3-5, 2022

For the Schedule, more information, and registration see the 
lead article in this issue of the eNews! Register today!  
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658
New Hours : Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Masks are recommended  inside the Good Shepherd Center. Due to COVID the events listed below continue to be virtual, online via Zoom. Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting. 

NOTICE: SGS has imposed more security on our Zoom meetings. Some meetings will begin with a waiting room.  The host must take action to let people into each meeting.  The host will try to open the waiting room about 10 minutes ahead of time. Please be patient.

All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted 

Sunday, May 15, 2022,   1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New,  Jill Morelli is the host. Visit the SGS website Calendar for details and updates. Please register in advance. Topic will be Orphan Train Rides. 

Wednesday, May 18, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Saturday, May 21, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, Irish SIG is back! With Susan McKee and Jim Ryan. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. 
Saturday, May 21, 2022, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German SIG is back! With Carolyn Schott. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information.

Sunday, May 22, 2022, 1:00 pm, Japanese American SIG,  with Caitlin Oiye Coon. This is one of our newer SIGs. Please sign up if you would like to attend; send an email to family.history@densho.org 

Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointmentnecessary.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Wednesday, June 1, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Monday, June 13, 2022, 7:00 pm -8:30 pm, Write It Up SIG (Virtual),  This new group to discuss and share writing projects, resources, and ideas. Group contact is Alaine Keisling. 

Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. 

Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Friday, June 17, 2022, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Family Tree Maker SIG,  with the Eastside Genealogical Society. You must be on the email list of attend a meeting; send your request to egsgenealogyhelper@yahoo.com 

Saturday, June 18, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm, Irish SIG is back! With Susan McKee and Jim Ryan. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. 
Saturday, June 18, 2022, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German SIG is back! With Carolyn Schott. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information.

Sunday, June 19, 2022,  1:00 pm-2:30 pm, Virtual Sundays: Something Old, Something New,  Jill Morelli is the host. Visit the SGS website Calendar for details and updates. Please register in advance. Topic to be determined – stay tuned. 

Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Saturday, June 25, 2022, 10:00 am- 12:30 pm,  DNA SIG with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens.To participate you must be on the DNA SIG email list. Contact Cary at sgsdnasig@gmail.com to join.

Sunday, June 26, 2022, 1:00 pm, Japanese American SIG,  with Caitlin Oiye Coon. This is one of our newer SIGs. Please sign up if you would like to attend; send an email to family.history@densho.org 

Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. 

Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 10:00 am-11:30 am, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists.

Free Webinar Stump the Archivist

by Charles Hansen
Free webinar: “Stump the Archivist,” on Friday, May 20 at 10 a.m.
Washington State Archives will present another iteration of “Stump the Archivist,” a Q&A webinar for researchers of all experience levels, on May 20 at 10 a.m.
Bring your questions and a notebook, and chat with Research Archivist Tracy Rebstock! Learn how to use state and local government records in your historical research or family history.
New records are added to our collections all the time. Updates to vital records means more access to birth, death, marriage, and divorce collections. Rebstock will talk about criminal records and then take your questions so you can dig deeper into your research. (Your questions don’t need to be related to criminal records.)
Register here. It is free to attend this event. If you miss the deadline to register, please contact jamison.murphy@sos.wa.gov before 10 a.m. on Friday, May 20 and we will try to get you in.
Visit our YouTube channel to view past webinars.

Heritage Quest Research Library Finding your Scottish Connections

by Charles Hansen
Finding Your Scottish Connections May 19, 2022 
11:00 AM – 12:00PM
ZOOM  Using the Scotland’s People website can be intimidating when looking for your ancestors. Learn how to navigate and determine which areas to search, where your ancestors came from and what resources to use before you cross the pond. Jo-Anne Huber has been searching for her Scottish Smith connections since 1994 when her father received a package containing several family artifacts.  The questions raised were many and the answers few.  She has found a treasure trove of information and secrets that her father never knew all while researching from across the pond. 
Come into HQRL in Sumner
1007 Main Street
Or Call:
253-863-1806
or online with hqrl.com

$20 members / $25 non-members

Members must log into the member page and then proceed to the hqrl store in order to obtain the member price. Copyright © 2022 Heritage Quest Research LIbrary, All rights reserved.
You have told us that you want to receive our news and updates from our library.

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